Olivia Nervo's Call for Legal Recognition of Reproductive Coercion
When Grammy award-winning songwriter Olivia Nervo agreed to start a family with her partner, she believed she was in a monogamous, committed relationship leading to a future. At that time, she had never heard of reproductive coercion, a form of controlling behaviour where someone interferes with another's bodily autonomy.
A Shocking Discovery and Legal Battle
Her world shattered when, six months pregnant, she discovered her partner was in a relationship with another woman who was also pregnant and with whom he already had a child. This revelation led Nervo to learn about reproductive coercion and embark on a lengthy, costly court battle in London against her former partner, wealthy New Zealand businessman Matthew Pringle, known as the "honey king" due to his ownership of Manuka Honey businesses.
Nervo expressed frustration with the legal system, stating: "If you have sex with someone and you don't disclose an STD, that's assault. If you remove a condom covertly, that's considered rape. But if you deceive someone into having a child, you just fall between the cracks." She advocates for reproductive coercion to be properly considered in family courts and ideally made a standalone offence.
Parliamentary Debate and Legal Gaps
Labour MP Natalie Fleet recently led a parliamentary debate on this issue, emphasising the importance of Nervo's story. Fleet argued that when courts fail to recognise or name reproductive coercion despite clear evidence, it creates a gap in protection. She called for clearer legal recognition to ensure patterns of behaviour are examined, not dismissed.
Reproductive coercion is currently recognised in England and Wales as a form of coercive control under the Serious Crime Act. However, Professor Sonja Ayeb-Karlsson from UCL notes that coercive control itself has taken nearly a decade to understand, and without a standalone offence, reproductive coercion often gets overlooked in criminal justice systems.
Personal Story and Court Proceedings
Nervo and Pringle met in 2016 and began trying for a child in 2018, planning their future together. In February 2019, while six months pregnant, Nervo encountered a woman at Pringle's Auckland office who revealed he was having a baby with another woman. After their daughter's birth, Pringle attempted to tie financial support to confidentiality, leading to legal disputes over defamation and privacy.
In a high court judgment, Nicholas Allen KC found Pringle's behaviour reprehensible and constituting domestic abuse, including controlling behaviour through deception. However, another judge refused a fact-finding trial on reproductive coercion allegations, deeming it unnecessary for welfare issues. Nervo lamented: "Labels protect us. They just made it broad as emotional abuse in nature."
The court of appeal later overturned a costs ruling, with judges criticising Nervo's late introduction of reproductive coercion allegations for increasing litigation costs. Nervo felt traumatised, stating: "Courts punish you for wanting to name it. It's just a really sad, sorry state of affairs." Since speaking out, she has been contacted by hundreds of women with similar experiences.
Public Response and Future Steps
A 2022 poll found 50% of women aged 18 to 44 believed they had experienced some form of reproductive coercion, including pressure around pregnancy, abortion, sex, or contraception. Justice Minister Alex Davies-Jones responded to Fleet's debate by confirming that the ongoing review of family courts will examine reproductive coercion.
Nervo remains determined, hoping her story will spur legal changes to protect others from similar ordeals. As she continues to advocate, the call for standalone offences grows louder, highlighting the need for systemic reform in addressing this hidden form of abuse.
